5 ways to make your next workout feel so much easier

Get active in your activewear

Long gone are the days when working out involved chucking on an old pair of trackies and a well-worn t-shirt. Activewear is everywhere. It looks great, and it feels great. Thanks to activewear, exercising in your neighbourhood and popping into a café or the shops on the way home no longer has to come with a heavy dose of hoping you don’t run into someone you know.

But there’s more to activewear than just looking the business. It’s also designed to make your workouts easier. It makes it easier to move freely, supports your muscles where needed and keeps you cool. It’s also a great way to get you in the mood for exercise. Routine is important, and putting your activewear on, whether you work out at home or in a gym, can be a great way to kick-start your brain into let’s-do-this mode.

Focus on what you’re doing, not what you have to do

Workouts are a great way to clear your mind, but you can quickly become distracted if you allow yourself to be. Your workout will drag on if you spend it thinking about work, or the things you have to do when you get home. Try to focus on being in the moment – challenge yourself to go the extra kilometre, or keep going for another five minutes. Keep distractions at a minimum, and you’ll get the mental as well as the physical benefits of a workout.

Try some tunes

Music has always been a big part of gym workouts, and for good reason. It’s a great way to push through the pain or discomfort barrier, and helps take your mind off how you’re feeling. Since the Walkman, technology has meant we can take music with us, no matter where we exercise. Today, that’s never been easier.

Phones, iPods, watches and even the new Walkman allow us to listen to music that motivates us, anywhere we go. You can buy a tiny device to clip to your pants or your top, or an armband that lets you take your phone with you. Your technology of choice can make a big difference when you’re pounding the path, on the exercise bike in your living room, or working out at the gym.

Subscribe for your sessions

While music may be the staple of workouts, today’s technology allows you to listen to so much more. Listening to podcasts, or downloading audiobooks allows you to relax when you exercise, and keep up to date with your hobbies or interests.

If you only listen to your favourite podcasts or audiobooks with your workouts, you may even start to look forward to them.

Get the right ear gear

Having the best music or podcasts is one thing, but listening to them in comfort when you work out is another. Getting your headphones tangled is a punish when you exercise. And if they feel uncomfortable or hurt your ears, it can be a real turn off. That’s where wireless headphones can come into their own.

The right headphones at the right price can make a big difference to your workout. i.am headphones from JB Hi-Fi use Bluetooth and are designed for both comfort and top-quality sound.

They look great, and you can hang them around your neck for safety, answer phone calls and adjust the sounds a with the push of a button. And they come with three different sized ear pads to ensure they’ll fit, no matter how old you are.